Release date:
11/13/2017
Ashley Sawyer sentenced for Medicaid fraud
(RALEIGH) Attorney General Josh Stein announced today that Ashley Sawyer pled guilty to Attempted Medicaid Provider Fraud in Wake County and was sentenced to 30 days in jail (suspended) and 12 months unsupervised probation. Ms. Sawyer also was ordered to pay $8,241.16 in restitution to her employer and court costs.
“Billing Medicaid for services not rendered pushes up the cost of the program and wastes taxpayer money,” said Attorney General Stein. “My office will not allow this type of abuse to occur.”Ashley Sawyer’s conviction resolves allegations that she submitted timesheets outlining speech therapy and treatment services to 13 Medicaid recipients in Pitt County between January 9, 2015 and September 18, 2015. Ms. Sawyer did not provide those services. Her employer has reimbursed the Medicaid program for those false claims; Ms. Sawyer will repay her employer.
Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman also helped to obtain this conviction.
About the Medicaid Investigations Division (MID)
Attorney General Stein’s MID investigates healthcare companies and providers for fraud and abuse, as well as patient abuse and neglect in facilities that are funded by Medicaid. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that helps provide medical care for people with limited income. To date, the MID has recovered more than $500 million in restitution and penalties for North Carolina.
Contact:
Laura Brewer (919) 716-6484
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